News
Blue Mountain Eagle
A3
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Grant Union students gain political experience
“
They learned that their voice is important,
and it’s OK to express their own opinions
– that they could be passionate.”
Tammy Bremner
Girls State chairwoman
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
voice is important, and it’s
OK to express their own opin-
ions – that they could be pas-
sionate,” she said.
The girls were voted into
political positions for city,
county and state, learning
and simulating how govern-
mental and public systems
work.
Namitz and Lenz served
in the House of Representa-
tives.
A girl in the group, from
another school, wrote a bill
which is, in reality, being
considered by the Oregon
House of Representatives.
Namitz said the girl ad-
vocated for regular scoliosis
screenings for students, and
said if she’d been screened,
expand my horizons,” she said.
Besides all the important
knowledge gained from the
event, the girls also enjoyed
getting to know the oth-
er girls in their groups, and
a dance for the Girls State
and Boys State attendees
– both sessions are held at
Willamette.
Namitz said the week was
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Auxiliary president Ruth
Harris, representing the Li-
on’s Club, and Carl Lino were
thanked for sponsoring the
girls.
Lino sponsors Girls State
each year in memory of his
late wife, Sondra Lino, who
was the Oregon Girls State
Director from 2003-2011.
Contributed photo
Three Grant Union seniors took center stage at the
American Legion and Auxiliary dinner Nov. 9 where
they shared their experiences from last summer’s
Girls State session. From left, Railey Namitz, Girls
State chairman Tammy Bremner, Samantha Brock,
sponsor Carl Lino and Avery Lenz. In front is Ruth
Harris, the American Legion Auxiliary president
also representing the Lions Club.
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GRANGE
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Eagle photos/Cheryl Hoefler
Frequent bazaar vendor
Billie Bullard, left, chats
with shopper Peggy
Clark at the Mt. Vernon
Grange Bazaar Nov. 14.
Hunters Stew
This hearty stew, a tradi-
tion at the annual Mt. Vernon
Grange holiday bazaar, is
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time Grange member Marge
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non and John Day. The large
quantities here are for prepar-
ing the amount of stew needed
to serve shoppers at the ba-
zaar, which averages 80-100
bowls full.
20 lbs. potatoes
10 lbs. carrots
1 lg. stalk celery
1 lg. head of cabbage
3 large onions
1 bag of pearl barley
3 #10 cans of diced tomatoes
1 large bottle of catsup
15-20 lbs. hamburger
Seasonings
Cut potatoes, carrots, cel-
ery, cabbage and onion into
small pieces.
Cook the barley until done.
Cook all items, except the
hamburger, individually until
done.
Cook the hamburger with
seasoning until done.
Mix all vegetables with the
barley, tomatoes, catsup and
hamburger.
Place in smaller containers
to cool overnight in the refrig-
erator.
Heat and serve the next
day.
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Chock-full of treasures!
Collectibles: Linens, Glassware, Silverware
The Boutique Furniture
Jewelry Pictures, Prints
Major Credit Cards accepted
Open 10 am - 4 pm Closed Sunday & Wednesday
600 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day (541) 575-2404
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Find just what you need
for all the men
on your list
Harriet Crum of Mt.
Vernon, left, pays for
a ‘top secret’ gift from
vendor Tim Coe of
Prairie City.
Auxiliary Bazaar
Saturday, December 5th
Grant County Fairgrounds Pavilion
s
dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and the
general meeting is at 7:30
p.m.
Those attending are “guar-
anteed to have a great meal
every month,” Sagert said.
Anyone interested in join-
ing the Mt. Vernon Grange, or
renting the building, can call
Ron Dowse, master, at 541-
575-4268, or Sagert at 541-
575-1007.
Mostly Handcrafted Items
Soup & Pie Available
Mary 541-620-4283
Blue Mountain
m’
Continued from Page A1
Maudean Brown of Mt.
Vernon is one of the long-tim-
ers. Brown ran her own event,
which she called “Christmas
in Mt. Vernon,” as far back
as the early 1970s when she
still owned her ceramic shop.
Mary Lou Drury and Patricia
Ross were co-organizers of
that event.
About 12 years ago, after
closing her ceramics shop,
Brown joined the vendors
at the Mt. Vernon Grange
bazaar. Among other home-
sewn crafts, she is known for
her microwave potato bags.
Michele Bishop of Canyon
City has been an avid partici-
pant at the Mt. Vernon bazaar
for the past six years.
“I love interacting with
people and seeing repeat cus-
tomers,” Bishop said.
“I love all the vendors –
it’s like family,” she added.
Another regular vendor,
P.J. Wunz, said, “It’s fun to
get to visit with people and
besides – plus, I have to have
some outlet for all my crafts.”
According to Sagert, the
Grange bazaar has many of
the same dedicated vendors
year after year, most of whom
are eager to sign up well in
advance.
“If I don’t get the letter out
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some vendors calling to see if
we are doing the bazaar,” Sag-
ert said.
“The past few years we
have been sold out of tables
by the middle of October, and
I start a waiting list in case
someone has to cancel,” she
said.
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Grange building, which was
“in town,” burned to the
ground in 1949. The Mt. Ver-
non Fire Department had just
acquired a new engine, and
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Sagert said.
In 1953, the Grange was
rebuilt in its present location –
about a mile east of town – on
land donated by the Holland
family and with the labor of
Grange members.
For the past year, the build-
ing was in dire straits due to
a failed septic system, but the
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Sagert said the Grange appre-
ciates all the members and
local businesses who helped
with the repair.
The building may be rent-
ed out for such activities as
events, meetings, family func-
tions and celebrations for $55
a day.
Sagert said like many local
groups, the Grange is in need
of more members, and they
encourage all Grant County
residents to consider joining.
It can be a hardship, she said,
because in order to conduct
business, they need a quorum
of members.
According to Sagert, the
Strawberry Grange in Prairie
City is merging with the Mt.
Vernon Grange, and they are
hopeful more members will
begin attending the meetings
from that collaboration.
The Mt. Vernon Grange
meets the second Friday of
each month. As with the
group’s annual fundraisers,
food is involved; a potluck
it may have prevented her
scoliosis from progressing.
All three Grant Union
girls said their time at the
session was a life-changing,
eye-opening experience.
“It gives a sense of the is-
sues going on,” Namitz said.
“And how heated the de-
bates are in the House and
Senate,” Lenz added.
Other highlights for Lenz
included watching a mock
trial of a girl “convicted” of
murder, and the candlelight
ceremony to honor veterans.
Brock, who was voted to
the Senate, said she learned
the importance of voting and
being involved.
“It was probably one of the
best experiences I’ve had to
da
JOHN DAY – Three Grant
Union students took their po-
litical knowledge to a new
level with a hands-on experi-
ence at this year’s Girls State
Session.
Railey Namitz, Saman-
tha Brock and Avery Lenz,
seniors, attended Girls State
June 14-20 at Willamette Uni-
versity in Salem.
The trio shared highlights
from their trip at the Amer-
ican Legion and Auxiliary
Ellis Tracy Unit 77 dinner
held Nov. 9 with family and
friends attending.
Girls State chairwoman
Tammy Bremner said the girls
had a positive and memorable
time.
“They learned that their
Ny
Trio shares
highlights of
learning and fun
Hospital Auxiliary
Pictures with Santa - Bring Your Camera!
652 W Main St.
John Day
541-575-0549
02975
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